Massager with relatively movable fingers



Jan. 6, 1959 A. w. HUGHES 2,367,211

' MASSAGER WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE FINGERS Filed May 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I as i' 1 J4 '1. 1 p 6 /4 /5 I I 5 5 I39 l0 I 75- I I 1 ZJJQMWV- 38 2/ 29 12 Z0 30 H 5 A9 2 Bnnentor attorneys A. W. HUGHES MASSAGER WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE FINGERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 'msr //7////// 3nventor ,4. 4/, W. Haw/es mvm atto rnegg Jan. 6, 1959 Filed May 13. 1957 United States Patent MASSAGER WITH RELATIVELY MOVABLE FINGERS Alvin W. Hughes, Bensenville, Ill. Application May 13, 1957, Serial No. 658,861

20 Claims. (Cl. 128-49) This invention relates to a massager with'rclatively movable fingers.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 230,993, filed June 11, 1951, now abandoned.

The improved massager is particularly designed for scalp massage, although it is of general application. It features a massaging head in which massaging fingers in two or more rows in a single elastic member have relative movement to and from other fingers accommodated by distortion of said member, thereby effecting manipulation of the patients skin between the relatively movable fingers. The elastic member and the fingers comprise an applicator head unitarily removable from the operating mechanism and continuous across such mechanism for its sealed protection in use.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partially in cross section through a massager embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the massager broken away to the section indicated at 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view partially taken in cross section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of a modified embodiment of my invention taken on the line 44 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are fragmentary detail views in cross section showing further modified embodiments of the invention.

The casing of the device, which also serves as a handle, comprises a base portion 8 and a removable cover 9. A horizontally projecting internal flange 10 in the base portion supports the motor 11 and also carries a shoulder bushing 12 Within which the rock shaft 13 is journaled for oscillation. The shaft has a disk 14 held to it by screw 15, the disk being seated on the shoulder of bushing 12 to support the shaft. Carried by the shaft is the driver 16 which also provides a mounting support for the relatively movable fingers of the massage applicator, generically designated by reference character 17.

The applicator 17 comprises a desirably planiform flexible disk of natural or synthetic rubber having vulcanized to its outer periphery a mounting ring 18 held by the flange 19 of sleeve 20 to the annular portion 21 of the base casting 8 of the case. The disk is desirably elastic and stretchable. Screws 22 detachably hold the ring 20.

The applicator disk has projecting from its lower face and in proximity to its outer perimeter a row of integral fingers 24. The central portion of the disk comprises one or more additional rows of fingers 25 and 26, these being desirably of progressively decreasing length so that the applicator as a whole will conform to a' convex-body surface, such as the patients scalp.

Bonded, as by vulcanization, to the central portion of the applicator disk 17 to overlie the massaging fingers 25 and 26, is the power-driver member 28 which has upwardly extending and generally radial-clutch teeth 29" received in the complementary clutch slots 30 of the driver 16. The arrangement is such that the removal of the mountingring 20 enables the entire applicator and the driven member 28 to be unitarily removed and unitarily handled for cleaning or for the substitution of another type of applicator,-as may be desired. When the parts are re-assembled, as shown, the teeth 29 enter the grooves 30 to re-establish the driving connection between the driver 16 and the driven element 28 mounted at the center of the applicator disk 17.

The particular operating connections may be varied as desired, but those shown have been found to be satisfactory. The casing of motor 11 has arms '31, 32 which provide bearings for the crankshaft 33. A worm 34 in the armature shaft 35 of the motor meshes with a worm gear 36 of shaft 33 to rotate the shaft at a speed reduced below that of the armature shaft. The lower end 37 of shaft 33 is enlarged for the support of orbitally movable crank 38. Connecting rod 39 transmits motion from the crank to the pin 40 on the driver 16 at a radius greatly in excess of the radius of the crank so that rotation of the crank merely oscillates the driver 16 on its shaft 13 in the pivotal bearing 12.

As the driver oscillates, it carries with it the fingers 25 and 26, the limited oscillatory movement 'of such fingers being accommodated by the distortion of the web portion 42 of the massaging head 17 which intervenes between the oscillatory fingers- 25 and the relatively nonoscillatory fingers 24. In preferred embodiments, the web 42 simply alternately stretches and contracts as the driver oscillates. As the oscillatory fingers tend to move with them the portion of the patients skin with which they are engaged, while the fingers 24 tend to hold stationary the portion of the patients skin with which they are engaged, it will be evident that a high degree of effectiveness of massaging action is achieved by the relative movement of the respective fingers without any possibility of pinching the patients skin, there being a continuous closed web between the relatively stationary and the relatively movable fingers.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the fingers 24 have lateral movement bodily with respect to fingers 25, 26, the disk being substantially planiform and the oscillation of the driver being substantially in or parallel to the planiform plane of the disk.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, two of the rows of fingers are given simultaneous and opposite oscillation, while the third remains stationary. It is, of course, broadly immaterial how many rows of fingers are involved in the relative oscillation.

In this modified embodiment, the casing base 8 and the:

flange 21 are unchanged. The bushing 12 and its mounting in the internal flange 10 are likewise unaltered. However, the rock shaft is connected with a driver which is annular in form and supports by means of screw 44 a second driver 161. The first driver is oscillated by the connecting rod 39 and pin 40 as above described, but the second driver is oscillated by a connecting rod 390 and pin 400, the driver 160 having a slot 45 to accommodate pin 400. Both connecting rods are attached to the same pin 380 on shaft element 37, but the respective connecting rods 39 and 390 go to opposite sides of the axis of rock shaft 130. drivers 160 and 161 will be oscillated in opposite directions.

The applicator 170, mounted exactly as above described, carries at its center a driven element 281 and between this and the mounting ring 18 there is an annular driven element 280. When the applicator is mounted, the respective driven elements 280 and 281 engage with the respective drivers 160 and 161 to receive motion simultaneously in opposite directions. Since the driven element 280 is F atented Jan. 6, 1959 It will be apparent that the two located immediately above fingers 26, each element being bonded by vulcanization or otherwise to the web of applicator 170, it will be apparent that the fingers 25' and 26 will oscillate in opposite directions while the fingers 24 remain stationary as heretofore.

The relative movement between the several fingers is accgmmodated by the elastic flexibility of the web upon which the fingers and the driven elements and the mounting ring 18 are all mounted.

I In this construction, the annular flange 21 is provided with pins 210 which are-fixed to project radially, the

mounting ring 200 having conventional bayonetslots (not complished through the use of an applicator head 170 identical with that shown in Fig. 4. However, the element 281 is engaged with a part 262 which, instead of being oscillatory, is mounted on a stud 46 shouldered at 47 and beyond which a threaded extension 48 projects to receive a nut 49 whereby the stud is fixedly clamped to the supporting flange of the housing base 8. The bushing 122 is mounted on stud 46 to permit the annular actuator 162 to oscillate upon the stud in response to the movements communicated to its pin 40 through the connecting rod 39.

i In the construction shown in Fig. 7, all of the inner fingers and 26 are fixed while the outer fingers 24 are oscillatory. In this construction, a stud 463 is used which is similar to that shown at 46 in Fig. 6, being anchored by a nut 493 to the bottom wall 103 of the housing base 83. r

The flange 213, instead of comprising a part of the housihg base, is mounted on the actuator 163 and the pin 403 projects through the housing wall 103 through the slot 50 to receive motion from'the connecting rod 39. Thus the mounting ring 18, at the outer perimeter of the applicator understood that oscillatory movement of any one set of fingers will produce a measure of massaging effect upon the scalp or other parts of the-body and that the amplitude of such oscillation will ordinarily exceed materially the amplitude of massaging movement produced by ordinary massaging'devices. However, the use of relatively movable massaging fingers is greatly to be preferred over the movement of a single set of such fingers, since the skin intervening between the relatively movable fingers is alternately compressed and attenuated with a totally different therapeutic effect from that which is possible through the oscillation of a single set of fingers;

1 In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the outer row of applicator fingers remains stationary while the fingers of the inner and intermediate rows are made to oscillate. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the outer row remains stationary while the fingers of the inner and intermediate rows have simultaneous but opposite oscillation. In the construction of Fig. 6, the fingers of the inner and outer rows are stationary and only the fingers of the intermediate row oscillate. In the construction of Fig. 7, only the fingers of the outer row oscillate and those of the inner and intermediate rows are stationary.

element or elements on the head. the head is closed from side to side, making it impossible for dirt to enter the casing or the bearings and also making it impossible for the patients skin to become pinched,

the applicator fingers 25 and the driven element 281 is located immediately above the In all of the con-. structions, the entire applicator head may unitarily be re-. moved for cleaning or replacement and the act of mounting it upon the handle casing reestablishes driving connection between the actuator or actuators and the driven In all constructions,

as might otherwise occur if there were relative movement between parts exposed at a bearing. In all constructions, the relative movement between the fingers is accommodated by relative distortion of the intervening web of elastic material upon which the fingers are mounted and with which they are preferably integral.

The drawings show the'respective driven elements and their actuators clutched in the relative positions which they will occupy in use. Depending on the degree of flexibility of the intervening web, the inner and intermediate series of fingers and the elements superposed on the web above these fingersmay sag to a greater or lesser degree when lifted from the patients'body. However, when the massager is again pressed to the patients body, the clutch elements of the actuator or actuators and the driven element or elements will re-engage, or will further engage, in the operative driving relationships shown.

' I claim:

1. In a power-driven massager, an applicator head comprising relatively movable mounting and actuating members one of 'which has a driving connection for moving it to and from the other, a web closing the space between said members and flexibly adapted to accommodate relative movement therebetween and fingers,

projecting outwardly from the web directly opposite respective members and operatively connected with different and relatively movable respective members whereby relative movement between said members effects bodily 2. In a device of the character described, an applicator head comprising a web, laterally spaced fingers projecting H transversely from spaced portions. of said web, said web being flexible in the direction of said lateral spacing, and mounting and actuating elements separately connected to said spaced portions of said web on which respective fingers are mounted, and at the side of said web opposite said fingers, and means for actuating said actuating ele-' ment to flex said web between said fingers in the'direction of said lateral spacing to effect relative lateral movement between said fingers.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the mounting element is within the actuator element.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the actuator element is within the mounting element.

5. The device of claim 2 in which the mounting element constitutes a ring and also comprises an actuating element, said fingers being spaced to lie beneath respective elements.

6. The device of claim 2 in which the mounting elethe ring and spaced therefrom, and a third element fixed within the actuator element and spaced therefrom, the

fingers being in annular series beneath respective elements.

7. The device of claim 2 in which the mounting element comprises a ring and there are two actuating ele ments concentrically arranged within the ring in spaced relation within the ring and to each other.

8. The device of claim 2 in which the mounting element comprises a ring, an actuating element being substantially co-axial with the ring and the elements being mutualy spaced, the fingers being spaced to lie beneath the respective elements.

9. A massaging device comprising the combination with a frame and a motor mounted thereon, of an annular support, a mounting ring detachably connected with the support, a massage applicator head carried by the mounting ring and comprising aflexible web having fingers depending from its lower face, certain of which fingers are opposite the mounting ring, an actuator having an oscillatable mounting on said support above said Web, and a driven element connected with said web.

and having clutch portions for which said actuator has complementary clutch portions engageable in the mounting of said head, said web having additional massaging fingers opposite said element in spaced relation to the fingers first mentioned, the portion of said web between said ring and said element being sufliciently flexible to accommodate relative oscillation effected by said actuator, and driving connections from said motor to said actuator for the oscillation thereof.

10. In a massager, the combination with a massaging head comprising a flexible web having a plurality of sets of massaging fingers in inner and outer series, said inner and outer series being laterally spaced on said web, of a plurality of elements connected with said web adjacent said inner and outer series, and motordriven means for effecting relative movement between said elements whereby to effect lateral movemnt between said series.

11. In a massager, the combination with a massaging head comprising a flexible web having a plurality of sets of massaging fingers in inner and outer series, of a plurality of elements connected with said Web above said inner and outer series, and motordriven means for effecting relative movement between said elements, one of said elements comprising a mounting element, in further combination with a frame with which said mounting element is in detachable connection, said motordriven means comprising a motor mounted on said frame, and a crank driven from said motor and having a connecting rod from said crank to one ofsaid elements, the element last mentioned being mounted for oscillation on said frame.

12. The device of claim 11 in which the element last mentioned is an element other than the mounting element and the connecting rod is attached to an actuator for which said frame provides an oscillatory mounting, the actuator and last mentioned element having clutch means.

13. The combination with a frame comprising a supporting annulus, of a mounting ring in detachable con nection with the annulus, a resilient web connected to the ring for unitary handling and provided with massaging fingers, some of which are below the annulus in annular series and others of which are disposed within said annular series of fingers, a driven element above the fingers which are Within said annular series of fingers, a driving element in detachable engagement with the driven element, and means for actuating the driving element to effect displacement between the fingers of said annular series and the fingers within said series.

14. A massager comprising the combination with a mounting ring and a flexible web spanning the ring and connected thereto and provided with a first series of fingers beneath the ring, an inner series of fingers and an intermediate series of fingers, each said series being laterally spaced from the other said series, relatively movable elements connected with the upper surface of the web above the respective series of fingers last mentioned, and means for positively effecting relative movement between said ring and at least one of said elements whereby to effect lateral movement between the fingers beneath the ring and the fingers beneath said one element.

15. The device of claim 14 comprising a support with 6 which the ring is in detachable connection, an actuator connected with said one element, and a motor on the support having driving connections including a crank and connecting rod connected with said actuator, the said actuator being mounted for oscillation on the support.

16. The device of claim 15 in which the other of said elements has a separate connection to the support.

17. The device of claim 16 in which said separate connectioncomprises a second actuator mounted for oscillation respecting the support and having its own connecting rod for its oscillation.

18. In a massager, the combination with a massage head comprising a flexible web having a plurality of sets of massaging fingers in inner and outer annular series, of inner and outer supporting elements connected with the web adjacent the respective fingers of the inner and outer series, one of said elements comprising a base casting and the other a driver mounted for oscillation with respect to the base casting, a motor attached to the base casting behind the driver and having an armature shaft and driving connections from the armature shaft to the driver including a crank and connecting rod for moving 1 the driver respecting the base casting, and a handle casting connected with the base casting and enclosing the motor, said driving connections being adapted to effect relative oscillatory movement between said elements whereby to eifect relative movement between the inner and outer series of fingers.

19. In a device of the character described, an applicator head comprising a substantially planiform web which is flexible in its plane, means spaced in the direction of the plane of said web and connected to said web for the mounting thereof, applicator fingers projecting transversely from a portion of the face of the web opposite said mounting means and from a portion of the face of the web intermediate said mounting means, a power-driven actuator connected with said intermediate web portion for flexing said web between said fingers in the plane of said web and for bodily moving said fingers in a massaging motion transverse to said fingers and parallel to the plane of the web, the web accommodating such motion while closing the space between said mounting means.

20. In a device of the character described, an applicator head comprising a flexible web, laterally spaced means connected with said web for the mounting thereof,

. applicator fingers projecting from a portion of the face of the web intermediate said mounting means, and a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,974,031 Merrill Sept. 18, 1934 2,036,677 Bergman Apr. 7, 1936 2,193,978 Miller Mar. 19, 1940 

